Strike action by Vopak workers suspended following improved offer

Strike action by hundreds of Vopak workers following a row over their pay and conditions was called off following talks with the storage terminal operator.
The CNV Vakmensen and FNV Havens unions gave Vopak – the world leading independent tank storage provider – until April 12 to negotiate a collective agreement for 800 workers.
Both unions demands a 3% pay increase as well as guarantees that there will be no compulsory redundancies. In addition, they also called for a budget for improving the ‘manoeuvring and resilience of employees’ and transition fees. However, after eight days of negotiations – an agreement could not be made.
A total of 650 workers went on strike for two hours on April 16 after limited strike action began on April 15 at the company’s oil and gas storage terminal in the Dutch port of Vlissingen.
Action was due to take place at 11 of the terminal operator’s oil, gas and chemical terminals in the Netherlands on April 22. However, Vopak said in a statement about its quarter one 2015 results that action was suspended following its response and that the unions were consulting their members before putting it to a vote.
Ruud Wennekes, negotiator for FNV Havens union told Reuters: ‘The offer seemed adequate to negotiators.’